finch
Use Finch in a sentence
noun
1.
any of numerous small passerine birds of the family Fringillidae, including the buntings, sparrows, crossbills, purple finches, and grosbeaks, most of which have a short, conical bill adapted for eating seeds.
2.
any of various nonfringilline birds, especially the weaverbirds of the family Ploceidae and the tropical members of the subfamily Emberizinae.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English finc; cognate with Dutch vink, German Fink; akin to Greek spíngos finch
before 900; Middle English; Old English finc; cognate with Dutch vink, German Fink; akin to Greek spíngos finch
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To finch
Collins
World English Dictionary
finch (fɪntʃ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | any songbird of the family Fringillidae, having a short stout bill for feeding on seeds and, in most species, a bright plumage in the male. Common examples are the goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, siskin, and canary |
| 2. | any of various similar or related birds |
| Related: fringilline | |
| [Old English finc; related to Old High German finko, Middle Dutch vinker, Greek spingos] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Finch
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
finch
O.E. finc, from P.Gmc. *finkiz, *finkjon (cf. Du. vink, O.H.G. finco, Ger. Fink), perhaps imitative of the bird's note (cf. Breton pint "chaffinch," Rus. penka "wren").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Barely onto the tarmac, birders have their first sighting: a small ground finch.
Even some birds, such as the oxpecker and vampire finch, feed on blood.
If you want to know how song changes the shape of a finch's brain, science can help.
Finch tossed the bag to the side and dropped to the ground.
Images for finch
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
